NEW ORLEANS, LA – Today, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the 2013 New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee joined to mark the 100 day countdown to Super Bowl XLVII. Along with updates on community initiatives and programs, they announced progress on construction projects expected to be complete by the game.

“We are now just over 100 days out and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Mayor Landrieu. “We have hosted an unmatched string of major events in the last two years including the BCS Championship, NCAA Final Four and Navy Week, and now we get ready to welcome the world to New Orleans for the world’s biggest show. We are calling on residents and businesses to help us continue these efforts in the preparation stage. We need all hands on deck.”

VOLUNTEERING

Volunteers will be the face of the 2013 Super Bowl, greeting visitors at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and hotels as well as performing other crucial roles around the city.

Some of these roles include:

Assisting visitors in finding their way around New Orleans;

Providing visitors with information about the Super Bowl and its associated events;

Filling hospitality positions at events hosted by the NFL and its sponsors; and

Assisting in community action related to volunteering, including building playgrounds and feeding the hungry.

With the help of volunteers, the 2013 Super Bowl will bring millions of dollars in economic impact for the Greater New Orleans area.

Volunteers who complete the 2 shifts will receive Super Bowl merchandise and an invitation to a post-event volunteer appreciation party.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or older by December 31, 2012, (21 years of age for driving responsibilities) and undergo a background check prior to the Super Bowl per NFL requirements. Your information will not be used for any other purpose.

In order to volunteer for sanctioned Super Bowl XLVII events and to receive an official NFL Credential, volunteers must be registered before December 10th, 2012. Volunteers can sign up at the New Orleans Host Committee website at https://ec.volunteernow.com/custom/1401/form.php

SUPER SATURDAY OF SERVICE

On the eve of Super Bowl XLVII, the Super Bowl Host Committee will hold its premier community initiative, Super Saturday of Service. The program will showcase collaboration between the Host Committee, NFL, City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC), Chevron, Young Leadership Council (YLC), the Urban League of Greater New Orleans and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) that provides improvements to five NORDC playgrounds, one in each councilmanic district and their surrounding neighborhoods.

The Super Saturday of Service will result in the renovation and beautification of five NORDC playgrounds and facilities. Funds from the City of New Orleans, the NORD Foundation, and NFL Charities will be used to complete major capital improvement projects at the Lyons Center, Hunter's Field, Kingswood Playground, Harrell Stadium and Pontchartrain Park prior to Super Bowl XLVII.

The details of the projects that will be completed in line with Super Bowl XLVII as part of the Super Saturday of Service are below.

Harrell Stadium

Drainage and site preparation for installation of new artificial football turf, installation of the artificial turf reclaimed from the Saints 2012 season and the 2013 Super Bowl; fencing and building enhancements

Lyons Center

Katrina related repairs to its gym, computer lab, stage, pool, and activities room, computer lab and a facility maintenance fund. Chevron will also directly contributed to the development of this facility by funding the installation of a state of the art dance facility within the center

Hunter's Field

Repairs to the field lighting, installation of new basketball courts, new computer lab, aluminum seating, above ground storage and HVAC, a new playground and a facility maintenance fund

Park lighting and training equipment installation in concert with the new walking path, installation of solar lighting and construction of a new picnic shelter

The City of New Orleans, the Host Committee, YLC, and Habitat have also reached out to the neighborhoods surrounding the different parks to find out what manageable service projects are needed in their areas. These projects will be the main focus of our volunteer activities the day of the event. We welcome the participation of other local non-profits to help tackle the projects needed to improve the neighborhoods around the five parks. Preparations at all five NORDC facilities are already under way.

In November 2011, Mayor Landrieu unveiled a public awareness campaign to increase civic pride and create a cleaner environment during an 18 month period of special events and activities taking place in New Orleans, including the 2012 BCS National Championship, 2012 NCAA Men's Final Four, 2013 NCAA Women's Final Four and the 2013 Super Bowl.

The first in the series of campaign messages – “Don’t Trash Dat” – has been used in public service announcements and signage across the city to remind local residents not to litter. The latest message, “Litter? Oh No You Didn’t,” will be highly utilized in advance of Super Bowl events. The campaign will feature local celebrities and will include radio ads, PSAs, and newspaper advertising.

The campaign is funded through the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill settlement from 2010, specifically set aside for public relations efforts to improve the perception of the city as a clean environment. A portion of the funds will also be dedicated to training hospitality industry workers, including front-line tourism and hospitality personnel.

TAXICABS

In April 2012, the New Orleans City Council adopted sweeping reforms to the taxicab industry recommended by the Landrieu Administration and Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer.

These reforms will be completed by the Super Bowl and will provide a more efficient, accessible and sustainable transportation system for citizens and guests. To date, over 400 of taxicabs have come into compliance. The City anticipates that all taxicabs, both in the city and at the airport will be completed by the Super Bowl.

FRENCH QUARTER STREETS

As part of a tremendous recovery effort, Paths to Progress (P2P) is a transportation improvement program to rehabilitate, restore and enhance more than 60 roadway segments in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. With a combined investment of over $90 million, Paths to Progress is a collaborative effort between the Federal Highway Administration, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, New Orleans Regional Planning Commission and City of New Orleans.

Planned repairs to portions of eight French Quarter streets will include resurfacing, fixing curbs and installing ramps to help people with disabilities.

The following segments are included for repair:

Burgundy St. (Canal St. – Esplanade Ave.)

Dauphine St. (Canal St. – Esplanade Ave.)

Esplanade Ave. (N. Peters St. – N. Rampart St.)

Toulouse St. (Decatur St. – Dauphine St.)

Toulouse St. (Dauphine St. – N. Rampart St.)

Saint Louis St. (Decatur St. – Dauphine St.)

Saint Louis St. (Dauphine St. – N. Rampart St.)

Decatur St. (Saint Louis St. – Dumaine St.)

N. Peters St. (Canal St. – Saint Louis St.)

Royal St. (Canal St. – Esplanade Ave.)

These repairs are slated to be completed in December 2012.

AIRPORT

In preparation for the Super Bowl, 16 construction projects at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were undertaken. 13 of these projects have been completed. The final 3 projects are on schedule. The current $356 Million capital program is set to be completed before Super Bowl and will enhance the aesthetics of the terminal buildings for years to come.

Other airport upgrades include: Southwest Airline’s renovation of concourse B, repaving of the access road by the State of Louisiana, and the introduction of Zatarain’s Kitchen, Copeland’s Cheesecake Scoops & Ye Olde College Inn, Wow Wingery LPBistro, and Dooky Chase to the airport’s restaurant selection.

The Armstrong International Airport continues outreach efforts with airlines now serving the New Orleans market as well as those who potentially could serve it to deliver the message that New Orleans continues to be a vibrant city with a growing demand for air service.

Since May 2010, two new airlines, Frontier and Air Canada, began service in New Orleans. A total of three new destinations were added, including San Francisco, Toronto and Milwaukee and the level of service increased to many other cities.

Scheduled improvements also include construction of a Consolidated Car Rental Facility.

RTA

The RTA is making great progress towards the successful completion of the Loyola Streetcar line. The project is scheduled to be open for revenue service in mid January and be fully available for use by locals and visitors for Mardi Gras and Super Bowl 2013.

The preventative maintenance project currently underway on the historic St. Charles Streetcar line will be suspended from January 19 - February 13 to allow full access to the line.

RTA has been fully participating with the City and Super Bowl transportation committee to develop a transit plan that will assist everyone in accessing not only events specific to these celebrations but also all areas of this community.

STREETSCAPES

The Department of Parks and Parkways is on track to complete a $750,000 landscape beautification project along Poydras Street from Claiborne to S. Peters, the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The project will be completed by early January 2013 in time for the Super Bowl. The project includes the removal of selected inappropriate plant material to make way for new plantings. The installation of specimen Palms, trees, shrubs and groundcovers in a pattern intended to unify the corridor and create a setting appropriate for the entryway to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Working with Capital Projects, Jackson Square will undergo repairs to lighting, fencing, benches and other infrastructure for completion in December of 2012. The Square will host a number of television programs during the week leading up to Super Bowl weekend.

About the 2013 New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee

The mission of the 2013 New Orleans Super Bowl XLVII Host Committee is to raise all funding necessary to fulfill the obligations of New Orleans’ bid to the NFL and to operationally execute those obligations. The Host Committee, as defined by the NFL, manages local volunteers and serves as the city’s ambassador to the incoming teams, their fans and media. The Committee is comprised of local leaders with a passion for football and New Orleans.